scholarly journals Structure-Function Relationships of the Vertebral Endplate

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuanqiao Wu ◽  
Elise Feng-i Morgan ◽  
Johnfredy Loaiza ◽  
Rohin Banerji ◽  
Olivia Rose Blouin

Background: Although deformation and fracture of the vertebral endplate have been implicated in spinal conditions such as vertebral fracture and disc degeneration, few biomechanical studies of this structure are available. The goal of this study was to quantify the mechanical behavior of the vertebral endplate. Methods: Eight-five rectangular specimens were dissected from the superior and/or inferior central endplates of human lumbar spine segments L1-L4. Micro-computed tomography (μCT) imaging, four-point-bend testing, and ashing were performed to quantify the apparent elastic modulus and yield stress (modulus and yield stress, respectively, of the porous vertebral endplate), tissue yield stress (yield stress of the tissue of the vertebral endplate, excluding pores), ultimate strain, fracture strain, bone volume fraction (BV/TV), bone mineral density (BMD), and various measures of tissue density and composition (tissue mineral density, ash fraction, and ash density). Regression was used to assess the dependence of mechanical properties on density and composition. Results: Wide variations in elastic and failure properties, and in density and tissue composition, were observed. BMD and BV/TV were good predictors of many of the apparent-level mechanical properties, including modulus, yield stress, and in the case of the inferior vertebral endplate, failure strains. Similar values of the mechanical properties were noted between superior and inferior vertebral endplates. In contrast to the dependence of apparent stiffness and strength on BMD and BV/TV, none of the mechanical properties depended on any of the tissue-level density measurements. Conclusion: The dependence of many of the mechanical properties of the vertebral endplate on BV/TV and BMD suggests possibilities for non-invasive assessment of how this region of the spine behaves during habitual and injurious loading. Further study of the non-mineral components of the endplate tissue is required to understand how the composition of this tissue may influence the overall mechanical behavior of the vertebral endplate.

2003 ◽  
Vol 82 (10) ◽  
pp. 819-823 ◽  
Author(s):  
L.J. van Ruijven ◽  
E.B.W. Giesen ◽  
M. Farella ◽  
T.M.G.J. van Eijden

The mechanical properties of cancellous bone depend on the bone structure. The present study examined the extent to which the apparent stiffness of the cancellous bone of the human mandibular condyle can be predicted from its structure. Two models were compared. The first, a structure model, used structural parameters such as bone volume fraction and anisotropy to estimate the apparent stiffness. The second was a finite element model (FEM) of the cancellous bone. The bone structure was characterized by micro-computed tomography. The calculated stiffnesses of 24 bone samples were compared with measured stiffnesses. Both models could predict 89% of the variation in the measured stiffnesses. From the stiffness approximated by FEM in combination with the measured stiffness, the stiffness of the bone tissue was estimated to be 11.1 ± 3.2 GPa. It was concluded that both models could predict the stiffness of cancellous bone with adequate accuracy.


2021 ◽  
pp. 002203452110110
Author(s):  
E.J. Lira dos Santos ◽  
M.B. Chavez ◽  
M.H. Tan ◽  
F.F. Mohamed ◽  
T.N. Kolli ◽  
...  

Mutations in the PHEX gene lead to X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH), a form of inherited rickets featuring elevated fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), reduced 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25D), and hypophosphatemia. Hyp mutant mice replicate the XLH phenotype, including dentin, alveolar bone, and cementum defects. We aimed to compare effects of 1,25D versus FGF23-neutralizing antibody (FGF23Ab) monotherapies on Hyp mouse dentoalveolar mineralization. Male Hyp mice, either injected subcutaneously with daily 1,25D or thrice weekly with FGF23 blocking antibody from 2 to 35 d postnatal, were compared to wild-type (WT) controls and untreated Hyp mice. Mandibles were analyzed by high-resolution micro–computed tomography (micro-CT), histology, and immunohistochemistry. Both interventions maintained normocalcemia, increased serum phosphate levels, and improved dentoalveolar mineralization in treated versus untreated Hyp mice. 1,25D increased crown dentin volume and thickness and root dentin/cementum volume, whereas FGF23Ab effects were limited to crown dentin volume. 1,25D increased bone volume fraction, bone mineral density, and tissue mineral density in Hyp mice, whereas FGF23Ab failed to significantly affect these alveolar bone parameters. Neither treatment fully attenuated dentin and bone defects to WT levels, and pulp volumes remained elevated regardless of treatment. Both treatments reduced predentin thickness and improved periodontal ligament organization, while 1,25D promoted a more profound improvement in acellular cementum thickness. Altered cell densities and lacunocanalicular properties of alveolar and mandibular bone osteocytes and cementocytes in Hyp mice were partially corrected by either treatment. Neither treatment normalized the altered distributions of bone sialoprotein and osteopontin in Hyp mouse alveolar bone. Moderate improvements from both 1,25D and FGF23Ab treatment regimens support further studies and collection of oral health data from subjects receiving a newly approved anti-FGF23 therapy. The inability of either treatment to fully correct Hyp mouse dentin and bone prompts further experiments into underlying pathological mechanisms to identify new therapeutic approaches.


PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e1562 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaori Endo ◽  
Satoshi Yamada ◽  
Masahiro Todoh ◽  
Masahiko Takahata ◽  
Norimasa Iwasaki ◽  
...  

The incidence of osteoporotic fractures was estimated as nine million worldwide in 2000, with particular occurrence at the proximity of joints rich in cancellous bone. Although most of these fractures spontaneously heal, some fractures progressively collapse during the early post-fracture period. Prediction of bone fragility during progressive collapse following initial fracture is clinically important. However, the mechanism of collapse, especially the gradual loss of the height in the cancellous bone region, is not clearly proved. The strength of cancellous bone after yield stress is difficult to predict since structural and mechanical strength cannot be determineda priori. The purpose of this study was to identify whether the baseline structure and volume of cancellous bone contributed to the change in cancellous bone strength under cyclic loading. A total of fifteen cubic cancellous bone specimens were obtained from two 2-year-old bovines and divided into three groups by collection regions: femoral head, neck, and proximal metaphysis. Structural indices of each 5-mm cubic specimen were determined using micro-computed tomography. Specimens were then subjected to five cycles of uniaxial compressive loading at 0.05 mm/min with initial 20 N loading, 0.3 mm displacement, and then unloading to 0.2 mm with 0.1 mm displacement for five successive cycles. Elastic modulus and yield stress of cancellous bone decreased exponentially during five loading cycles. The decrease ratio of yield stress from baseline to fifth cycle was strongly correlated with bone volume fraction (BV/TV,r= 0.96,p< 0.01) and structural model index (SMI,r= − 0.81,p< 0.01). The decrease ratio of elastic modulus from baseline to fifth cycle was also correlated with BV/TV (r= 0.80,p< 0.01) and SMI (r= − 0.78,p< 0.01). These data indicate that structural deterioration of cancellous bone is associated with bone strength after yield stress. This study suggests that baseline cancellous bone structure estimated from adjacent non-fractured bone contributes to the cancellous bone strength during collapse.


Author(s):  
Xiaowei S. Liu ◽  
X. Henry Zhang ◽  
Paul Sajda ◽  
Punam K. Saha ◽  
Felix W. Wehrli ◽  
...  

Osteoporosis is an age-related disease characterized by low bone mass and architectural deterioration. Other than bone volume fraction (BV/TV), microarchitecture of trabecular bone, such as trabecular type (rods or plates), connectivity, and orientation of the trabecular network is also believed to be important in governing the mechanical properties of trabecular bone. A recent study [1] showed that the microarchitecture alone affects elastic moduli of trabecular bone and, further, that trabecular plates make a far greater contribution than rods. In human vertebral trabecular bone, the roles of transverse vs. vertical rods in conferring mechanical properties of trabecular bone have been debated [2, 3]. It has been suggested that the role of transverse trabecular rod is critical in determining elastic modulus of vertebral trabecular bone. However, without explicit classifications of trabecular type, or orientation assessment at an individual trabecula level, it is not possible yet to test this hypothesis in human trabecular bone samples despite the development of three-dimensional (3D) micro computed tomography (μCT) and μCT based finite element (FE) models of human trabecular bone. With the newly developed technique of complete volumetric decomposition and individual trabecula based orientation analyses [4], now it is possible to quantitatively examine the contributions of trabecular rods of various orientations in the elastic properties of vertebral trabecular bone.


2010 ◽  
Vol 43 (5) ◽  
pp. 953-960 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esther Cory ◽  
Ara Nazarian ◽  
Vahid Entezari ◽  
Vartan Vartanians ◽  
Ralph Müller ◽  
...  

2010 ◽  
Vol 207 (3) ◽  
pp. 257-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kotaro Azuma ◽  
Stephanie C Casey ◽  
Masako Ito ◽  
Tomohiko Urano ◽  
Kuniko Horie ◽  
...  

The steroid and xenobiotic receptor (SXR) and its murine ortholog pregnane X receptor (PXR) are nuclear receptors that are expressed mainly in the liver and intestine where they function as xenobiotic sensors. In addition to its role as a xenobiotic sensor, previous studies in our laboratories and elsewhere have identified a role for SXR/PXR as a mediator of bone homeostasis. Here, we report that systemic deletion of PXR results in marked osteopenia with mechanical fragility in female mice as young as 4 months old. Bone mineral density (BMD) of PXR knockout (PXRKO) mice was significantly decreased compared with the BMD of wild-type (WT) mice. Micro-computed tomography analysis of femoral trabecular bones revealed that the three-dimensional bone volume fraction of PXRKO mice was markedly reduced compared with that of WT mice. Histomorphometrical analysis of the trabecular bones in the proximal tibia showed a remarkable reduction in bone mass in PXRKO mice. As for bone turnover of the trabecular bones, bone formation is reduced, whereas bone resorption is enhanced in PXRKO mice. Histomorphometrical analysis of femoral cortical bones revealed a larger cortical area in WT mice than that in PXRKO mice. WT mice had a thicker cortical width than PXRKO mice. Three-point bending test revealed that these morphological phenotypes actually caused mechanical fragility. Lastly, serum levels of phosphate, calcium, and alkaline phosphatase were unchanged in PXRKO mice compared with WT. Consistent with our previous results, we conclude that SXR/PXR promotes bone formation and suppresses bone resorption thus cementing a role for SXR/PXR as a key regulator of bone homeostasis.


2004 ◽  
Vol 83 (3) ◽  
pp. 255-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.B.W. Giesen ◽  
M. Ding ◽  
M. Dalstra ◽  
T.M.G.J. van Eijden

Since edentate subjects have a reduced masticatory function, it can be expected that the morphology of the cancellous bone of their mandibular condyles has changed according to the altered mechanical environment. In the present study, the morphology of cylindrical cancellous bone specimens of the mandibular condyles of edentate subjects (n = 25) was compared with that of dentate subjects (n = 24) by means of micro-computed tomography and by the application of Archimedes’ principle. Stiffness and strength were determined by destructive mechanical testing. Compared with dentate subjects, it appeared that, in edentate subjects, the bone was less dense and the trabecular structure was less plate-like. The regression models of stiffness and strength built from bone volume fraction and the trabecular orientation relative to the axis of the specimen were similar for both dentate and edentate subjects. This indicates that, under reduced mechanical load, the fundamental relationship between bone morphology and mechanical properties does not change.


2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chen-Chen Ji ◽  
Bo Liu ◽  
Yi-Jie Shao ◽  
Ting Liang ◽  
Hua-Ye Jiang ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives: In the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA), tramadol, a common weak opioid, has become popular due to its effectiveness in inhibition of pain. In the present study, we aimed to explore the effect of tramadol on subchondral bone, especially changes in the microstructure and mechanical properties. Methods: A mouse model of OA was established in the present study by destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM). A vehicle or drug was administered for 4 weeks. Specimens were harvested and analyzed radiologically and histologically using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and histological staining to evaluate the knee joints of mice undergoing different forms of intervention. Results: In the early stages of OA induced by DMM, the subchondral bone volume fraction in the OA group was significantly higher than in the sham+vehicle (sham+veh) group, while the volume in the treatment groups was lower than in the DMM+vehicle (DMM+veh) and sham+veh groups. In addition, the elastic moduli in the treatment groups clearly decreased compared with the DMM+veh and sham+veh groups. Observations of the subchondral bone surface by SEM indicated serious destruction, principally manifesting as a decrease in lacunae and more numerous and scattered cracks. Histological staining demonstrated that there was no difference in the degeneration of either the articular cartilage or synovial cells whether tramadol was used or not. Conclusion: Although tramadol is effective in inhibiting pain in early OA, it negatively regulates the microstructure and mechanical properties of subchondral bone in joints.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shidi Hu ◽  
Jin Li ◽  
Lu Liu ◽  
Ruchun Dai ◽  
Zhifeng Sheng ◽  
...  

Bone mechanical properties encompass both geometric and material factors, while the effects of estrogen deficiency on the material and structural characteristics of bone at micro- to nanoscales are still obscure. We performed a series of combined methodological experiments, including nanoindentation assessment of intrinsic material properties, atomic force microscopy (AFM) characterization of trabecular (Tb) nanostructure, and Tb microarchitecture and 2D BMD. At 15 weeks after surgery, we found significantly less Tb bone mineral density (BMD) at organ (−27%) and at tissue level (−12%), Tb bone volume fraction (−29%), Tb thickness (−14%), and Tb number (−17%) in ovariectomy (OVX) rats than in sham operated (SHAM) rats, while the structure model index (+91%) and Tb separation (+19%) became significantly greater. AFM images showed lower roughness Tb surfaces with loosely packed large nodular structures and less compacted interfibrillar space in OVX than in SHAM. However, no statistically significant changes were in the Tb intrinsic material properties—nanoindentation hardness, elastic modulus, and plastic deformation—nanoindentation depths, and residual areas. Therefore, estrogen deprivation results in a dramatic deterioration in Tb micro/nanoarchitectures, 3D volumetric BMD at both organ and tissue levels, and 2D BMD, but not in the nanomechanical properties of the trabeculae per se.


2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (Supp02) ◽  
pp. 1850022
Author(s):  
MAOYUAN LI ◽  
LIN LU ◽  
ZHEN DAI ◽  
YIQIANG HONG ◽  
WEIWEI CHEN ◽  
...  

Amorphous Al–Cu–Ti metal foams were prepared by spark plasma sintering (SPS) process with the diameter of 10[Formula: see text]mm. The SPS process was conducted at the pressure of 200 and 300[Formula: see text]MPa with the temperature of 653–723[Formula: see text]K, respectively. NaCl was used as the space-holder, forming almost separated pores with the porosity of 65 vol%. The microstructure and mechanical behavior of the amorphous Al–Cu–Ti metal foams were systematically investigated. The results show that the crystallinity increased at elevated temperatures. The effect of pressure and holding time on the crystallization was almost negligible. The intermetallic compounds, i.e. Al–Ti, Al–Cu and Al–Cu–Ti were identified from X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns. It was found that weak adhesion and brittle intermetallic compounds reduced the mechanical properties, while lower volume fraction and smaller size of NaCl powders improved the mechanical properties.


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